Chinese architecture

Chinese architecture[EXTRACT]

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The Hall of Supreme Harmony within the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) grounds in Beijing

Shanghai's Longhua Temple inner courtyard.

Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the years. Over the centuries, the structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being on the decorative details. Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese architecture has had a major influence on the architectural styles of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The following article gives a cursory explanation of traditional Chinese architecture, before the introduction of Western building methods during the early 20th Century. Throughout the 20th Century, however, Western-trained Chinese architects have attempted to combine traditional Chinese designs into modern (usually government) buildings, with only limited success. Moreover, the pressure for Western-style urban development throughout contemporary China means that traditional Chinese buildings are fast disappearing.

Contents [hide] 1 Features 2 Classification by structure 3 Imperial architecture 4 Commoner architecture 5 Religious architecture 6 See also 7 References

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Features

There are certain features common to Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use.

The most important is its emphasis on the horizontal, in particular a heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base, with the verti